Peter C. Thomas

Institution:	Cornell University
Role:	Develop digital shape model of the comet nucleus from imagers on the main spacecraft and the impactor; produce image mosaics and interpretive maps of the surface features of the comet; analyze the structure of the comet from surface features.
Bio:	Dr. Thomas has an academic background in geomorphology, but did his PhD. work at Cornell on the surface features of the Martian satellites Phobos and Deimos. Since then his scientific work has included the "geology" of small bodies (asteroids and comets); shapes and surface features of ellipsoidal satellites; and eolian features and polar processes on Mars. For Deep Impact he will produce digital shape models of the nucleus for direct analysis and as a base for projections of images and construction of geologic maps of surface features. He has been, or is, a science team member on the Galileo, Cassini, NEAR, Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Climate Orbiter, Mars Polar Lander, CONTOUR, and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions.

Biographical details contained on these pages were correct during the Deep Impact mission which ended in 2006. Several scientists from Deep Impact are now working on related missions such as EPOXI and Stardust-NExT.